As we approach Veterans Day 2017, I wanted to share a letter sent to the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Dr. David J. Shulkin. I felt this problem needed to be addressed in favor of all veterans who frequent VA hospitals and clinics. I personally suffer from a lung disease and must breathe in the secondary smoke as I enter the clinic. Other veterans I spoke with said they encountered the same at the hospitals in different states prior to moving to Florida.

Dear Dr. Shulkin: Please explain to me why Veterans Affairs allows smoking outside of their facilities throughout the United States.

I frequent the VA clinic in Viera, Florida, and they, along with other clinics and hospitals, allow smoking at the right of the entrances of all facilities.

I and many other veterans suffer from COPD but must breathe in secondary smoke as we walk into the clinic.

VA clinics and hospitals treat all kinds of respiratory health problems including asthma, lung cancer, COPD, and asbestos infections, along with many other lung problems — but still allow smoking on the premises.

I hope this can and will change in the very near future. I look forward to your answer and solution to this health problem.

Bruce Mochwart, Melbourne

Why not the Space Coast, Kelly?

I have a question. Kelly Slater is embarking on a massive business venture that will bring jobs to anything from construction companies, their employees, material distributors and supply houses to public utilities (think how much water a "surf ranch" will use, even if it’s recycled), not to mention the permanent employees who will be needed at the future surf ranch.

Why then is this new venture being built in Palm Beach County and not Brevard? Imagine the revenue that will go into Palm Beach County during and after completion of this project — restaurants, stores, bars, souvenir shops.

We're supposed to be important to Kelly. He was born in Cocoa Beach, so we flock to watch him compete in every tournament. We support everything that is Kelly Slater, we brag and boast. Why then does his money go elsewhere? Inquiring minds would like to know.

Helen Mullis, Palm Bay

On the hunt for lost profits

So, Under Armour's profit is slumping due to a loss in women's sales. Perhaps it could be that the company supports unethical forms of hunting like trophy hunting.

The company brand ambassador for women's hunting, Sarah Bowmar, recently shot a black bear with a crossbow and left him running in agony while his intestines spilled out. She did nothing. She waited until the next day to try and find him. The next day, her husband Josh, impaled a black bear at a bait site with a homemade spear. He had attached a GoPro to the spear so he would have vivid recording of the attack. Sadistic.

Granted, after the public uproar, Under Armour severed ties with the Bowmars but they did little to speak out against other unethical forms of hunting like hunting in the spring when mothers could be raising their young — leaving the babies orphaned and left to starve. Also, they don't speak out against enticing animals to a "kill spot" with food bait, which is what the Bowmars did to entice the black bears they killed.

For the most part I find women more compassionate than men toward wildlife. Perhaps this is the reason for declining profits.